2026 Jack Adams Award Picks

With his Colorado Avalanche in first place in the NHL, Jared Bednar is the favorite to be named the league's coach of the year. However, the Jack Adams Award has only gone to the bench boss whose team finished atop the standings 10 times in 51 years.

That suggests another coach might claim the honor this season. Let's look at the latest Jack Adams Award futures to find some best bets and longshots. Odds are subject to change.

Jack Adams Award
Jared Bednar	+150	+150	+150
Jon Cooper	+400	+400	+400
Lindy Ruff	+500	+500	+500
Joel Quenneville	+1000	+1000	+1000
Todd McLellan	+1000	+1000	+1000
Ryan Warsofsky	+1600	+1600	+1600
Dan Muse	+1800	+1800	+1800
Patrick Roy	+4000	+4000	+4000
Marco Sturm	+5000	+5000	+5000
Martin St. Louis	+5000	+5000	+5000
André Tourigny	+6600	+6600	+6600
John Hynes	+6600	+6600	+6600
Rick Bowness	+6600	+6600	+6600
Rick Tocchet	+7500	+7500	+7500
Ryan Huska	+7500	+7500	+7500

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Bednar a bad bet Jack Adams?

Jared Bednar (+150) seemed like a shoo-in for the Jack Adams Award when Colorado was on pace to break a new NHL points record. But following a rough patch where they lost four of five games, the Avalanche are unlikely to surpass the 2022-23 Bruins' 135-point mark.

Without a record-setting season, Bednar's candidacy could fall short given the elite talent he has at his disposal. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are currently the favorites to win the Hart Trophy for league MVP and Norris Trophy for best defenseman.

Jared Bednar coaching while Bared Jednar crushes a cold one behind the bench 😭 pic.twitter.com/TZ7Ui7G9NS

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 29, 2025

Crowning Cooper?

Jon Cooper (+400) has his Lightning atop the Eastern Conference with 70 points. While that's nine back of Colorado for the President's Trophy, the NHL's longest tenured coach is more than deserving of some "lifetime achievement" votes after leading Tampa Bay to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.

Surpassing expectations

Lindy Ruff (+500) could be on the verge of guiding Buffalo to its first playoff appearance in 15 years. It's a remarkable turnaround for both the Sabres, who sit in third-place in the Atlantic division, and the 2006 Jack Adams winner, who was fired from the New Jersey Devils less than one year ago.

Joel Quenneville (+1000) took over a team that missed the postseason seven straight years. The three-time Stanley Cup champion has authored an instant turnaround for his young Anaheim Ducks, who are third-place place in the Pacific.

“You know what it is? It’s Canadian” 🍁

An all-time line from Jon Cooper when talking about what’s in his cup after leading Team Canada to victory at the #4Nations pic.twitter.com/v0UkrZK3T2

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) February 21, 2025

Best Longshot

Marco Sturm (+5000) is a 50-1 longshot despite having the Bruins in a playoff spot through 53 games. Boston had an over/under total of just 80.5 points heading into the season, which was lower than Anaheim (82.5), Buffalo (82.5) and Detroit (84.5). What gives?

Todd McLellan (+1000) has the Red Wings playoff bound for the first time since 2016. If Detroit can fend off the Lightning for the Atlantic crown, the veteran coach could finally win the Jack Adams after 18 years behind the bench.

Todd McLellan Jack Adams Award

+1000

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